🌱 Local Arrested For Multiple Assaults + Chow Chow Festival Scheduled

Hello, Asheville! It's me, Rose Mendez, your host of the Patch newsletter. Let's get this day started off right, with a quick review of everything you need to know about what's happening in town.

But first, your local weather:

• Wednesday: Times of clouds and sun. High: 58 Low: 41.
• Thursday: Considerable cloudiness. High: 57 Low: 42.

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Here are the top four stories in Asheville today:

1. On Feb. 28, an 87-year-old homeowner was allegedly assaulted and robbed after letting Luke Karrick, who said he needed medical help due to a vehicle collision, into his home. Later that day, a Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office Deputy and Emergency Medical Technician were allegedly assaulted at Mission Hospital while trying to treat Karrick, who was experiencing fentanyl withdrawal. Karrick was arrested and faces multiple charges including assault with serious bodily injury, assault physical injury law enforcement officer, and attempted common law robbery. (WYFF 4)
2. On Tuesday, Mar. 7, the Asheville Fire Department announced that Asheville Fire Investigator Dewayne Fender's death from cancer was ruled as a line-of-duty death by the North Carolina Industrial Commission. Fender served with the Asheville Fire Department for 28 years and "took great pride in being an Asheville Firefighter," according to the Asheville Fire Department's press release. After a 13-month battle with cancer, Fender passed away on Jan. 8, 2022. (WLOS)
3. The Chow Chow Food + Culture Festival in Asheville is back for another year! The festival will run Sep. 7 through Sep. 10. Tickets will go on sale in April for the festival's workshops, dinners, tastings, and performances. (AVLtoday)
4. Due to an increase in colon cancer in young people, the USPSTF & American Cancer Society recommend that everyone living in Buncombe County who is 45 years of age and older should get screened for colon cancer. Dr. Shelandra Bell said that colon cancer can be "very well managed" if caught early. (The Mountaineer)

Today and tomorrow in Asheville:

Wednesday, March 8

• Well-Crafted Music with Matt Smith At Taproom At Highland Brewing Co. (6:00 PM)

Thursday, March 9

• The Magic School Bus: Lost in the Solar System - Student Series At Wortham Center for the Performing Arts (10:00 AM, 12:00 PM)
• Zelda Fitzgerald Week: “Recovering Zelda” At East Asheville Library (6:00 PM)

From my notebook:

• A home on the outskirts of Asheville set an area record when it recently sold for $9.6 million! The English Tudor-style home has five bedrooms, a roughly 10,000-square-foot estate, and about a 1.5-acre lot. (Mansion Global)
• The inaugural AVLFest will debut from Aug. 3 through Aug. 6 in Asheville! There will be over 100 artists in more than 20 local venues for the festival. (Live For Live Music)
• Many local employers in Asheville are searching for new employees to fill part-time and full-time positions. Check out the latest job openings in the Asheville area including Administrative Assistant, Room Inspector, and Site Manager - Blue Ridge Parkway, Craggy Gardens. (Asheville Patch)

Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon!

— Rose Mendez

About me: Rose Mendez is a freelance writer. She is studying English Literature at Hunter College. She loves reading, walking around the city, and coffee!